For Immediate Release
June 27, 2016, 8 a.m.
Dixie National Forest -
Saddle Fire Update
PINE VALLEY, Utah – The
Saddle Fire gained 95 acres and is now at 1,329 acres with five percent
containment.
Yesterday firefighters directly attacked the
western portion of the fire.
Firefighters are now using aerial ignition operations to check the fire
on the southeast side on the main ridge on the west of the avalanche chute in
Forsyth Canyon. Air tankers and heavy
helicopters used thousands of gallons of retardant and water to prevent the
fire from moving onto the southern face of Saddle Mountain.
Saddle Fire managers will hold a fire operations
update meeting at 7 p.m. tonight at the Central Fire Station, 155 East Center
Street, Central, Utah.
There are 675 firefighters and supporting
resources assigned to the incident, fighting the fire day and night. While day
crews improve fuel breaks and scout the terrain, night crews, including engines
and hotshot crews patrol areas threatened by the fire, prepared to pick up spot
fires and encroaching flames if needed.
The
fire remains most active in the Lloyd and Forsyth canyons, burning mostly in
the downed logs and underbrush in the conifer stands. Backing fires have
advanced the perimeter a little closer to the fuel breaks around Pine
Valley. Fire growth will continue to the
east, northeast and southeast in Lloyd Canyon with limited spread to the
northwest and west. Areas with live, green oak and mahogany are limiting the
spread of the fire.
Property owners are still asked by the
Washington County Sheriff’s Office to voluntarily evacuate Pine Valley,
limiting the number of people in the area threatened by fire. Fire crews
identified 500 properties that are threatened.
Those that do not own property in Pine Valley
are asked to stay clear of the area. The Pine Valley Recreation Area in the
Dixie National Forest remains under an area closure to all uses until the order
is rescinded (http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/4794/31098/). Those wanting more information about the
closure should contact the Dixie National Forest.
The
Saddle Fire began June 13 with a lighting strike on Saddle Mountain in the Pine
Valley Mountain Wilderness of the Dixie National Forest. The fire started approximately
2.5 miles south west of Pine Valley, Utah. It is burning in heavy, dead and
downed timber and brush and in the higher elevation by very steep,
inaccessible, rocky terrain.
A
fire information center has been established at the Pine Valley Fire Station.
For further information please follow the Dixie National Forest on Facebook,
Twitter, and InciWeb at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4794/. Residents may also sign up for Everbridge to
receive notifications from the Washington County Emergency Alert System by http://911register.com/. Those experiencing problems with online
registration may call (435) 634-5700 for assistance.
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